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brickset & pyrometer query

updated thu 27 jan 00

 

James L Bowen on tue 25 jan 00

------------------
We are at the stage where we are making the arch form. Mark says we should =
put
the arch together using brickset, but I am not sure about this. The arch =
will
be 60=22 wide by 54=22 deep by 13=22 high by 41/2=22 thick with a fiber =
blanket on top.
Should we use something to glue the arch bricks together or is gravity and =
an
iron framework enough?
The bricks are K-23s that came from a kiln at a local school. They are in =
good
used condition. I am wondering about using an ITC coating on the entire
interior after we test the kiln to make sure everything works to make =5E10.
Has anyone tried the digital pyrometer sold by Axner for =2449.95? I =
asked them
to bring one to NCECA. Hope they do.

Tracy Dotson on wed 26 jan 00

We used one of those on the last firing of a new kiln. Don't buy it unless
you get an agreement to return it for a full refund. Ours never settled down
and gave us no usable readings. We use Fluke brand and love it. More
expensive but it works! Tracy

The Pottery Penland NC

Stephen Grimmer on wed 26 jan 00

James,
The arches I have seen laid up with mortar have all had cracks in them.
Keep in mind that we're talking about a small sample size, here! Mark Ward
clearly is an expert in these matters. Anyway, I think the best way (outside
an MFT, of course!) is to lay it up dry just like the walls. If you stagger
the joints on each course by cutting half bricks, the whole arch will lock
together nicely. On the other hand, laying the arch up in 'rings' makes it
easy to replace a single brick later on. Hmmm.

steve

--
Steve Grimmer
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH

----------
>From: James L Bowen
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>Subject: brickset & pyrometer query
>Date: Tue, Jan 25, 2000, 1:29 PM
>

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> ------------------
> We are at the stage where we are making the arch form. Mark says we should
put
> the arch together using brickset, but I am not sure about this. The arch will
> be 60" wide by 54" deep by 13" high by 41/2" thick with a fiber blanket on
top.
> Should we use something to glue the arch bricks together or is gravity and an
> iron framework enough?
> The bricks are K-23s that came from a kiln at a local school. They are in
good
> used condition. I am wondering about using an ITC coating on the entire
> interior after we test the kiln to make sure everything works to make ^10.
> Has anyone tried the digital pyrometer sold by Axner for $49.95? I asked
them
> to bring one to NCECA. Hope they do.